Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

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Zweihander
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Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by Zweihander » Tue Jan 27, 2015 5:31 pm

I've got three 140mm Fractal R2 "Silent" fans in my R4 case. Two in the front, and one in the back as main exhaust.

They move hardly any air, and don't really seem to be the quiestest of fans honestly. Any suggestions on an alternative, better replacement?

Abula
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by Abula » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:03 pm

Fractal design define R4, by design is very restrictive, its just the way it is, its not bad, you might improve the cooling some, but it wont be a dramatic change.

On my R4, I used to use NF-A14 PWM and to me they were fine, above below 400rpms they are inaudible, no matter the spot, above 700rpms i can start to notice them, above 1000rpm to me they are loud.

Antec True Quiet 140 are imo one of the best tonally, but they wont move much air either, they can be drop off to 200rpms under fanXpert motherboard, and 400rpms on a fan contrller where they are still quiet, they only go to 800rpms where they are barely noticeble, but they dont have the much static preassue, and will not push that much air behind fan filters.

Noiseblocker has the PK series that imo are great fans, the PK1 is 700rpms and pretty solid, but doesn't undervolt much, the PK2 goes to 1200 rpms and undervolt some, from what i remember around 700rpms, the PK3 is a monster to move air going into 1900rpms, but for sure its very loud at those speeds, you will need to undervolt it.

There are the phanteks also, check SPCR roundups on the 140s, you should be able to find the first one dominated the review, i personally not a big fan of phantek, but they seem to have a good fan there.

CA_Steve
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by CA_Steve » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:38 pm

The front grill and filter are fairly restrictive. Take a look at the bottom section of this build.

quest_for_silence
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by quest_for_silence » Sat Jan 31, 2015 4:54 am

My 140mm favourites are the Prolimatech Vortex (Red or Blue), Antec TrueQuiet, Noctua P14r.

xan_user
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by xan_user » Sat Jan 31, 2015 8:50 am

I'm not a fan of push pull setups. I find I get more air through the case if I put all fans as either exhaust or, all as intake.
try putting the back fan on the bottom as an intake (and cover the side vent, if there is one).

Zweihander
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by Zweihander » Sat Jan 31, 2015 1:31 pm

I have three fans in the R4.

2 140mm in the front pulling air in, 1 140mm in the back pulling air out.

Additionally, the GPU fans (GTX 970 Strix), and the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 CPU cooler which has two fans, pushing air out the rear exhaust.

xan_user
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by xan_user » Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:31 pm

Zweihander wrote:I have three fans in the R4.

2 140mm in the front pulling air in, 1 140mm in the back pulling air out.

Additionally, the GPU fans (GTX 970 Strix), and the Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 CPU cooler which has two fans, pushing air out the rear exhaust.
Understood. I am saying have all 3 140's either be intake or have all 3 be exhaust. -better CFM to RPM ratio.

Zweihander
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by Zweihander » Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:35 pm

@xan_user

Why would I want to do that? I don't have any heat issues. I just want more airflow, and a lower noise ratio.

xan_user
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Re: Fractal R2 140mm fan alternatives?

Post by xan_user » Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:58 pm

because you can run all 3 140 fans slower (less noise) and still have the same, or better airflow.

btw, if you don't have the top vents blocked off now, the back exhaust is basically doing nothing but pulling in air from right above it and immediately expelling it, without doing much good. (airshort)
-infact, if the top vents are open now, I wonder if you could take the rear fan out altogether, block the bottom and side vents, and eliminate one of the noise makers. :?:

What are your temps at high user loads anyway? (benchmarks tools are silly imo, unless you actually fold or mine, ect)

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